Oswald killed Kennedy, but that's not what official marker says

DALLAS — When people move to North Texas, in my experience, one thing that tends to fascinate them is the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Fifty-five-years later, Dealey Plaza, where it happened, remains one of the top tourist destinations in the area.

We’ve got a new guy working over here at WFAA. His name is Chris Lawrence. He just moved here from Washington D.C. and he’s about to take over for long-time anchor John McCaa when he retires.

So, I figured I’d take Chris to see Dealey Plaza and have him as a guest on Verify. I had a plan for him but didn't tell him beforehand.

“Right around the corner here, we have–based on crime scene photos taken the day of the assassination–the sniper's perch,” Fagin said as he showed the sixth floor window tha looks down on the plaza.

The plaque outside does not belong to the museum. It was installed by the Texas Historical Commission. But, the museum also uses that word "allegedly."

“I'm a little surprised that the word allegedly is on the plaque on the side of the building," Chris said to Stephen. "Why's that?”

“That's the accurate term to use," Stephen said. "Allegedly or accused, that is the appropriate way to describe Lee Harvey Oswald because he was shot and killed within 48 hours of the assassination. He never went to trial He was never convicted of any crime,"

“That implies that we don't know what happened? Or what?” I asked Stephen.

“It's an indicator that our museum doesn't take a position," he said. "We don't call Oswald the assassin of the President. Nor do we say there was a conspiracy. We present the story and leave it up to our visitors to decide what they believe."

What does Chris think about that?

“The way Stephen described it," he said. "He seemed to be saying, look there was no trial. I get that, as a journalist, why they would not say Oswald is the assassin."

A DIFFERENT STORY

After he left Dealey Plaza, Oswald was three miles away in Oak Cliff, at the intersection of E. 10th St. and N. Patton Ave. That’s where a cop named J.D. Tippit stopped Oswald on the sidewalk. There’s a plaque here, too, that I want Chris to see.

“I want to ask you a question about that word,” I said.

“Yeah,” Chris said.

‘What's that word?” I asked.

“Murdered,” Chris said.

“Tippit was murdered by Lee Harvey Oswald,” Chris read aloud from the plaque.

“And Oswald never went to trial for that killing, obviously," Chris said while pondering the words on the plaque. "No allegedly in that sentence."

Enter Farris Rookstool III , who wrote the plaque. He's a JFK historian. And during his time as an FBI analyst, read 500,000 pages of classified FBI documents on the assassination.